Tag: elttraining

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Sizzling Grills and Exam Drills: Life Lessons Beyond Tests

by freepik

“Dedicated to my father who slept countless nights on restaurant booths to provide for his family.” By Katherine Reilly, originally published by ELT NEWS printed magazine

This is the story of a boy who grew up in a fairly isolated village of Greece following the conclusion of the atrocious second world war. History has proven that education is a privilege typically accessible to the better-off, with lesser-known exceptions breaking the rule after enduring relentless hardships and trials. Imagine the oldest brother of five, forced to work the fields to provide the bare necessities for his siblings to survive. Education in a post-war society was but a luxury – a far-fetched dream many a youth at the time were deprived of.

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Grammar Woes and Laughs: How to Thrive Amidst Linguistic Lunacy

picture by freepik.com

by Katherine Reilly, originally published in ELT NEWS printed magazine

After more than two decades of teaching grammar, I can assuredly attest to the notion that language teaching has become the embodiment of God’s sense of humor. Bold claims to be held, albeit with concrete justification. I cannot begin to comprehend the turmoil and frustration faced by a language learner when interpreting Greek idioms which baffle them beyond explanation. “Slow the much oil” or “You’ll eat wood” are but a few examples to consider. Of course, this works both ways as learners of English would be scratching their heads when hearing the expression “Bite the bullet” or “I’ll spill the beans”. I can only imagine how upset a host would be upon hearing his guest say the latter, fretting for his clean, shiny floor. Admittedly, I have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and preserving a spotless kitchen floor is a constant painstaking endeavor.

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